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Discover Downtown

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Downtown Oshawa is a vibrant mix of business, culture, entertainment and academia; a place where people come to work, learn, live, enjoy art and music, watch live sporting events, meet for drinks and enjoy great food.

Located in the city's centre, Downtown Oshawa also benefits from an active Business Improvement Area. View the Downtown Oshawa BIA's most recent newsletter here. View the BIA's 2017 Retail Recruitment Brochure here.

On the first Friday of each month between 7:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m., hundreds gather at Downtown Oshawa's Robert McLaughlin Gallery (RMG) to celebrate local creative talent at RMG Fridays. The RMG is the largest public gallery in Durham region, occupying an inspiring 36,000 square-foot building designed by world-renowned architect Arthur Erikson. It features a permanent collection of over 4,500 works of art, with five galleries of diverse and changing exhibitions and two art studios.

The Oshawa Public Library, McLaughlin Branch is also located Downtown and offers a dedicated teen area, quiet study space, internet terminals in addition to multi-language books, information and quality programming.

Cuisine

The Let's Eat Restaurant Guide for Downtown Oshawa is a must-have for any culinary visitor to Downtown Oshawa. This publication features Downtown Oshawa restaurants and their special dishes, stories and photos of this growing foodie sector downtown.

Downtown Oshawa Sandwich Board Sign Permit

Sandwich Board signs represent an important and affordable tool for business owners to advertise their businesses, particularly during the summer season, in the downtown.

Council has adopted a 3-year Pilot Project to permit Sandwich Board Signs in the C.B.D. (Central Business District) Zones in the Downtown that permits business owners to place sandwich board signs on private properties and within the public boulevard including the sidewalk.

Downtown Oshawa Sidewalk Café Program

Sidewalk cafés in Downtown Oshawa create spaces for people to meet, relax and dine. The sidewalk café season operates from May 1 to October 31.

In order to operate a sidewalk café, one must obtain a licence. If you are interested in applying for a sidewalk café licence, please email business@oshawa.ca or call 905-436-5617.

Entertainment

The Tribute Communities Centre is front and centre as Durham Region's premier sports and entertainment facility, hosting major concerts including Sir Elton John, Bob Dylan, the Tragically Hip and Kiss to name a few. Music can also be heard at the historic Regent Theatre that is home to the Ontario Philharmonic. Local music talent can also be heard at the Moustache Club and the Music Hall.

Events

The Downtown is host to a number of exciting festivals and events including Hot Roots Soup, Parades, Durham Craft Beer Festival as well Doors Open and the Culture Squared event showcasing our local cultural talent and culinary offerings. The Business Improvement Area (B.I.A.) hosts a number of downtown events throughout the year. Visit the community calendar for a full list of events.

Parking Downtown

There is plenty of parking in Downtown.

Tokens can be purchased for use at parking meters, surface lots and municipal parkades from Service Oshawa located in City Hall and at the Mary St. Parkade, 1 Mary St. N., Oshawa.